Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-02-04

Subject 81 Discussion az the preehwtar3nn
Church Last Might.

hC s0ttOW Ing - IN DbhtfucE OF the sub
ject discussed At the prayer-mectino il
i the Presbyterian Church last nighf. n
which the pastor said
Our blessed Saviour declares that III
is"the light ofthe world. " The prophet
hundreds of years before his advent
spoke of him as 3 light. 1t was said
THE people that walked in darkness
have seen q great light they that dwell
in the land of the shadow of death. upon
them hath the light shined. Light il
transparent and revealing Hence, il Is
an emblem Of knowledge Christ throws
light upon the darkest subjects, as God
the soul. eternity, the way to heaven. Ma.
tions that knew nothing about Christ
have very erroneous views of.God. Indi.
viduals who reject the light Christ brings
remain in great darkness concerning tile
true God. This is true, too, of the soul.
| Not until the people saw the nature, and
character, and destiny of the soul. as
Christ threw the light upon them, did
hey have much appreciation of the soul
| tome of them had an idea of its immor-
tality, but its real work they did not nm.
derstand. They had no conception of
what it might be in the great future. AS
many as had conception of future
state, had very low views of it. But Christ
revealed heaven as place where Goo is.
and where the angels and the good of all
ages are found, as mansions prepared by
Him. Then he revealed the way to this
delightful abode, and said of himself II
am the way. Upon all these subjects.
and thousand others connected with
them, Christ throws the light we need.
Light is also an emblem of purity The
world was dreadfully corrupt when Christ
A l. T. -. T. Al
Romans gives a dreadful picture Of the
wickedness of the world. From the state
ments made by the ecclesiastical historian,
we have reason to think that the world
was Fastening ON to utter ruin, when this
great light appeared. In the light indi-
viduals and communities began to sec
themselves as they were. Then they be
gan to want better condition of things.
In this light, and aided by the Holy Spirit,
we find the people aiming at something
better than they had received. They were
weary of their corruption, and were
brought to walk in the light.
Light, too, Is an emblem of happiness.
1t is calm, not fitful. 1t Is harmonious
and peaceful 1t was dark, sad world
when Christ came, this great Light The
scriptures speak of the light rejoicing and
bringing gladness. The history of the
church of Christ will show how Christ
has brought happiness to individuals and
nations. Said Matthew Henry II have
found life Of communion with Christ
the happiest life in the world. Said
John Randolph 81 have seen men every
where, and the only men / have ever
know who seemed to me to be truly hap
py, were those who were Christians"
We have never heard of one who when
he came down 70 the close of life regret
ted that he had walked in the light of
Christ. Yea, SO far reaching are the ben
efits of this holy religion, that Rowland
Hill says II would give nothing for the
christianity of man whose very dog and
cat were not the better for his religion. =
Statements like the following we find all
through modern history 1T was chris
| tianity alone which maintained some kind
of combination among the crumbling
fragments of the Roman Empire" In
no. country was it the parent of civiliza-
ton so manifestly as among the Anglo
Saxons" Such things are said of it to-
day in every nation where its light is
shining.
The nations and individuals receiving
the light are rejecting that light, and in
a very important sense are they becoming
the light of the world. To the christian
Christ says LET your light so shine be-
| fore men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is
| in heaven" All our good deeds are not
to glOrify ourselves, but God who has
given US the light with which we become
light to others.